Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB687: AN ACT relating to stray equines.
Status: In committee, April 15, 2026
Amend KRS 259.120 to allow the county judge/executive to contract for the performance of specific duties required to be performed when an equine is subject to being taken up by a person or organization that provides animal sheltering services; require the contract to be approved by the county fiscal court; establish immunity from criminal and civil liability.
What the bill says
An act relating to stray equines.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT relating to stray equines. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Section 1. KRS 259.120 is amended to read as follows: Stray equines and stray cattle shall be taken up and posted in the following manner: (1) (a) Documentation of stray equines shall be taken before a county judge/executive of the district, who shall administer to the taker-up an oath, in substance, that the equine was taken up by him or her as a stray and that he or she has not defaced or altered the marks, brands, or other identifiers, including but not limited to microchips or freeze brands, of the equine. (b) Documentation of stray cattle shall be taken before a county judge/executive of the district, who shall administer to the taker-up an oath, in substance that the cattle were taken by him or her as strays on his or her premises within the preceding ten (10) days and that he or she has not defaced or altered the marks or brands of the cattle. (c) Duties of the county judge/executive pertaining to stray equines shall be to: 1. Contract with a licensed veterinarian, who shall document the stray equine's breed, color, sex, marks, brands, scars, and other distinguishing features, perform a microchip scan, and identify the existence of lip tattoos, …
Sponsors
- Mitch Whitaker (R, HD-094) · primary sponsor
- Daniel Fister (R, HD-056)
Latest actions
- : recommitted to Appropriations & Revenue (H)
- : 2nd reading, to Rules
- : reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
- : to Agriculture (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Subjects: Animals, Livestock, And Poultry, Horses And Horse Racing, Courts, Fiscal, County Judges/Executive, Agriculture
Common questions
- What is HB687?
- HB687 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to stray equines.
- What does HB687 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to stray equines.
- What is the status of HB687?
- In committee as of April 15, 2026. Latest action: recommitted to Appropriations & Revenue (H) (April 15, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB687?
- Mitch Whitaker (R, HD-094), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB687?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb687.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.